For a very long time, we have refrained from using the term ‘tour packages’ to describe the experiences we create in Northeast India. There is something very traditional and boring about the terms ‘tour packages’ and hence we never wrote a blog titled ‘Best Northeast India tour packages’ or ’12 amazing northeast India tour packages’ etcetera. But we have realised that it is a term that people are familiar with and hence inadvertently one looks up for the search term in Google. The results that throw up are disappointing. That is why we decided to make some difference, in a way that we can.

By writing an article listing out some of the unique experiences one can have in Northeast India. These are experiences which we at ChaloHoppo have curated first hand. There is no plan or shall we say ‘package’ which we have listed because some travel agent connected us to a guy sitting in Tawang who can take you to Bumla pass. No. In fact, this list of ‘unique northeast India tour packages’ that we have listed doesn’t even feature Tawang.

Why? Well simply because so far, in the last 3 years that we have been operational, we have yet not been able to create something unique for Tawang. An experience which sets us apart from the hordes of cliched travel packages available out there. That, however, will change soon and you can expect a ChaloHoppoesque Tawang experience in 2020!

For now, let us proceed to share ChaloHoppo’s trip calendar for 2019 – 2020 which definitely happen to be some of the best northeast India tour packages that one can sign up for.

This is quite a comprehensive list of over 4000 words covering experiences in the northeast Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim. The only states missing are Assam and Tripura and if you wish to travel to these 2 states then we can always customise a trip for you. You can send us your enquiry here.

The blog has 11 experiential tour packages listed with the different dates on which one can book it. Each of these 11 tours has again been broken down into the following three parts:

A)You should book this trip if you: This is to give you an idea of your traveller persona and choose a trip based on the kind of experiences you would like to have.

B) The locations and spots you will get to tick off your list: This gives an overview of the places the trip will cover. It doesn’t specifically mention everything to do in that place.

C) Highlights of the trip: This tells you what experiences we will be crafting for you.

For ease of access, we have created a table of contents and you can navigate within the page using the same.

List of our trips and their specialities

Chalohoppo to Dzukou Valley

One of the lesser-known valleys of flowers that spreads like a carpet, changing colour with the seasons is a trekkers wonderland. At approximately 8000 feet you can see rivulets, flowers, herbs and shrubs spread across Dzukou’s lap. With the scenic and quaint villages of Zakhama and Viswema serving as bases for starting the trek, your experience of being one with nature starts the moment you arrive in Nagaland. As you trek to the serene valley and pass ‘communitised’ villages along the way, the fragrant flowers will keep your senses mesmerised, if the visual treat alone isn’t enough!

Our dear friend and eminent blogger Vikas Palkkot, one of the co-authors of“Beyond The Wall” went on a trip to Dzukou valley with us. Vikas and Divya are known for their budget travels (who doesn’t want to save a few bucks here and there) to beautiful destinations across the globe. You can know more about Vikas’s experience with us here.

You should book this trip if you

Ever felt like unzipping your tent to a surreal view of the sun rising over terraced rice fields and stretch your arms wide?

Want to camp to one of the best views Nagaland has to offer

Have thought of dining on fresh cooked Naga cuisines

Like red meat, varieties of smoked and fresh meat, infused with local herbs and generous portions of the bamboo shoot on offer

Love trekking and want to see the stunning landscape of Dzukou valley

Are not a regular trekker but want to experience it for the first time

You have never trekked

Want to get introduced to Nagaland

Have never camped and this would be your first time

Are planning to visit Northeast India and have only a weekend to spare

Miss seeing stars and sitting around bonfires

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Kohima

Jakhama village

Dzukou valley

Highlights of the trip

Visiting the war cemetery in Kohima

Kohima market walk

Traditional Naga restaurant in Kohima

Camping in Jakhama village with an amazing view of lush green terraced rice fields (May to September)

Swimming in a nearby stream after Dzukou trek (May to September)

You will be provided with a trip leader who will guide you during the Dzukou trips.

ChaloHoppo to Asia’s First Green Village, Dzuleke and Dzukou Valley

From breathing in the fresh Naga air of Asia’s first green village to finding solace in the bamboo alien land of Dzukou Valley. From photographing the decorated houses of Dzuleke to capturing thought-provoking graffiti on Kohima roads. From tasting your catch from the fresh stream of Khonoma to tasting authentic Naga cuisine in locally popular Kohima food joints. From walking in the golden rice fields of Jakhama to trekking up to 8,000 ft high to a bamboo wonderland.

Travelling isn’t just about staying in breathtakingly beautiful places but it’s also a way to unleash the inner child in you. Checkthis wonderful video by Nishit Sharma akaHopping bug (known for his amazing drone shots) who hopped along with us to Khonoma and see how some of us became kids again and don’t stop there watch till the end and we bet you’ll have a good time.

You should book this trip if you

Want to live in Asia’s First Green Village

Want to learn how to fish removing boulders and rocks from the locals

Want to try making your own catch for lunch

Are seekers of isolated villages

Are fascinated about history as much as an adventure in the wild

Want to explore the exotic markets of Kohima

Want to wake up to the view of golden terraced paddy fields

Have the talent to photograph the changing colour of the skies during sunset

Want to experience the alien valley of Dzukou

Are keen to have an affair with clear starlit skies

Understand the spirit of surviving in extreme conditions and how everyone from porters to guides to fellow travellers works together

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Khonoma

Dzuleke

Kohima

Jakhama

Dzukou Valley

Highlights of the trip

Living in Asia’s first green village

Go for a heritage village walk to understand the struggle of Nagas with British.

Fishing with locals in the jungle using traditional techniques.

Having fresh organic veggies plucked from the kitchen garden.

Living in a village with only 34 houses

Feeding salt to “Mithuns” with your own hands

Visiting the underground markets of Kohima, with exotic dishes on offer

ChaloHoppo to an Adventure in the Wet and Wild Meghalaya

If you grew up in these villages of Meghalaya, you would never need an amusement park in your life. From serene spots in the jungle to exciting river activities and picturesque lakes, they have it all. Go find a pair of swimming trunks!

You should book this trip if you

Loved water parks as a child

Love watching videos of people jumping and diving into the water

Can’t swim but would be like aqua-man with the life jacket on

Haven’t heard of the activity called ‘canyoning’ before today

Have confused river canyoning with canoeing

Like trekking and pushing yourself to see that amazing waterfall, that one breathtaking view of a valley and more

Care about offbeat experiences and will choose a destination which may not be on Google’s list of top places to visit in Meghalaya

Have been waiting to see the double-decker living root bridges of Meghalaya

Get an adrenaline rush out of crossing wobbly hanging bridges with gushing rivers underneath

Love treating yourself to a comfortable stay in the most pristine setting after a hard day’s trek

Enjoy classic rock and get joy out of seeing and interacting with passionate musicians as they jam in front of you

Have never been to Cherrapunjee

Have never heard of a river island called Nongkhnum

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Mawlyngbna

Mawphanlur

Nongkhnum

Nongriat

Cherapunjee

Highlights of the trip

Stay in the village where the living root bridges thrive

Tasting the authentic Khasi cuisine

Natural fish pedicure

Stay in boutique cottages in Cherrapunjee

Interacting with a local band in Cherrapunjee

Trekking to see the Rainbow falls

River canyoning

Kayaking

Swimming in natural pools

Staying in comfortable cottages in the village

Sitting at a comfortable viewpoint and gazing at Bangladesh

Camping in the village is also included for those interested

Hiking to Weinia falls and Thum falls on Nongkhnum river island

Lunch by the riverside in Asia’s second-largest river island

Staying in lovely cottages in the West Khasi hills village of Mawphanlur

ChaloHoppo to Meet the Headhunters of Nagaland!

Live your dream of living past in present. From conversing with the last surviving face tattooed hunters to buying the dying unique Konyak handicrafts. From sipping tea to the green mountains of India to sunbathing in the Burmese hills. Welcome to the land of Anghs, the Wild East!

Ankita Kumar aka monkey.inc was a part of our Nagaland and Majuli trip in October 2018, where she along with other travellers had the chance of meeting the last face tattooed Headhunter or the king of a Konyak village. Ankita has beautifully penned down her experience. You can read her blog here.

You should book this trip, if you

Want to interact with the last surviving face tattooed headhunters of Nagaland

Don’t mind getting welcomed with a cup of tea by the last surviving face tattooed king of Konyak tribe

Are a collector of antiques, especially the rare Konyak handicrafts made of wood and brass

Want to see a gunmaker make a traditional Konyak gun in front of you

Are a dog lover and don’t mind petting a fur ball while sitting around a bonfire

Want to hop countries without passports or visa

Want a picture standing in a house built half in India and half in Myanmar

Want to know the intriguing stories of the human headhunting from the hunter’s mouth

Are always looking to explore the less explored places and cultures

Always wanted to stay in a distant village, with breathtaking views from your windows

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Dibrugarh, Assam

Mon Town

Hongphoi Village

Longwa Village

Unknown hills of Burma

Highlights Of The Trip

Meeting the last surviving face tattooed King (Angh) of the Konyaks

Visiting and observing the rare Konyak art of making antics with brass and wood

ChaloHoppo to an Unorthodox tour of Sikkim with a visit to the North

In a state where the most difficult terrains have been tamed and homestays are as common as rhododendron flowers in spring, can one still find places that can be termed offbeat and experiences that are handpicked? Come and find out.

You should book this trip if you

Want to see Sikkim from a different perspective, one that doesn’t involve us taking you around Gangtok, since that you can, should do on your own

Love the idea of homestay hospitality

Want to visit one of the highest lakes in India- Gurdongmar lake and Yumthang Valley

Are fascinated with the thought of spending 2 nights in a resort only accessible by 4 by 4 vehicles or on foot where the clouds float into your wooden cottages

Think you can finish a wooden tumbler full of millet beer before dinner and then continue drinking it after dinner as well

Want an unorthodox tour of Sikkim beyond the usual places it is known for, on the internet

Understand that counting how viewpoints you have ticked off isn’t the same as having an immersive travel experience

Would rather avoid the peak season where tourists would clamour for space and be a traveller instead

Understand that weather conditions are in no one’s control and are flexible with the change in plans if any

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Gangtok

Bichu Village

MG Marg

Gurudongmar lake

Lachen

Lachung

Munlom

Dzongu

Lingtam village

Yumthang Valley

Zuluk loops

Gnathang valley

Tsongmo lake

Highlights of the trip:

Beautiful hikes around villages

Lunch under open skies in remote villages

Riverside live picnic (a meal cooked in the wild and from the wild)

Tasting two types of traditional brews (alcoholic) ‘Chang’ and ‘Chi’

Power nap by Riverside (yes it is a highlight)

Staying in boutique homestays and interacting host from two different tribes- Lepchas and Bhutias.

ChaloHoppo for a Football tour to the wettest part of the world

Rains in the wettest part of the world. Rains in Cherrapunjee. And Football. With the locals in the village. Locals whose forefathers crafted everliving bridges out of roots. Your team versus theirs. The time of your life, during the holiday of your life, with the people you love and playing the sport you live for.

You should book this trip if you:

Love football

Love the idea of playing football in the rain

Love the idea of playing football in one of the wettest parts of the world- Cherrapunjee!

Want to experience Cherrapunjee, its waterfalls and the stunning beauty but not like everyone else does

Want to feel like you are on a professional football tour, yet it’s a holiday

Love a good swim in a natural rock pool around waterfalls

Are excited to see the double-decker living root bridges

Your idea of a perfect holiday is indulging in sports, luxurious resorts, boutique cottages and village stays

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Nongriat

Double- Decker Living Root bridge

Wei Sawdong falls

Nohkalikhai falls

Dainthlen falls

Umiama lake

Shillong

Highlights of the trip:

Stay in handpicked boutique stays – the luxurious Jiva resort, the enchanting Sai Mika resort and a village homestay in Nongriat

Play your favourite game with locals – Khasi boys from Tyrna and Nongriat

Wear your team jerseys as you gear up for the football match

Visit the breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls

Live classic rock performance by a local band led by Tenny Gregory in Cherrapunjee

Fish Pedicure in a natural rock pool next to a waterfall

Enjoy massage session after your game while guzzling your beer

Sightseeing of Cherrapunjee

The feeling of being on a professional football tour with memories sealed forever in the form of participation medal, framed team photographs and more

ChaloHoppo to an Unknown Arunachal – Mechuka

From a complete shift in architectural pattern, with wood replacing brick and mortar and herds of stray horses interrupting your path or seen grazing at a distance, replacing the usual cow herds seen on Indian roads, you slowly tend to relate to the deep-rooted Tibetan influence that you have read online about. The trip gets better when you are received by your warm home-stay hosts. Traditional food preparation sessions, long nature walks and exploring Memba heirlooms (the major tribe inhabiting the valley) punctuate your Mechuka experience.

Mechuka turns fluorescent green from May right till August. September marks the beginning of Autumn and everything turns brown and stays that way until December. January brings in snow and then spring comes. Regardless of the season, you visit it in, the place offers breathtaking beauty.

Offbeat travels, uncharted routes, and unexplored destinations are what we seek to provide our guests with. Sometimes enjoying the little moments of unprecedented happenings are what makes the journey worth. Tanya Khanijowwent on a tour of Mechuka with us in November 2018.

You should book this trip if you

Want to visit a destination that is not on the regular tourist’s map

Have 9 days off or want to take 9 days off and go as a far away from the city life as possible

Want a holiday where you stay in people’s homes, eat with them and live like them

Are looking for places which have less than 1500 hashtag mentions on Instagram (look for #Mechuka) and compare it to #Tawang which has 34,000 mentions!

Love hiking to reach viewpoints which take your breath away

Crave for organic fruits and can pluck your own oranges and eat them

Can chase wild horses roaming in a tableland at 6000 feet

Want to feel the chilly winter winds and get soothed by bonfires

Stargaze for pleasure with the backdrop of snow-capped peaks shining under the moonlight

Don’t mind having any phone connectivity for a week

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Pasighat

Siang riverside

Kinker Moniyong hanging bridge

Along

Siko Diko waterfalls

Mechuka valley

Dambuk

Bomjir

Dibang river

Highlights of the trip

Momo making sessions with the locals of the Memba tribe

Hiking to a 400-year-old monastery

Relishing a ‘langar’ in a Gurudwara in the land of the Memba people

Staying in beautiful and comfortable homestays

Lunching in front of a waterfall, yes right in front of it, as the water sprays over you

ChaloHoppo to a Mythical Mizoram

Mizoram a land of majestic landscapes is filled with uncountable mythical folklore. Greet your mornings to a sight of Burma, while tasting the traditional Mizo air. Leave the modern Mizoram, it’s time to head to the land where the stories still reside in distant villages.

You should book this trip if you

Always wanted to know about the less known Mizoram

Want to live your backpacking dream in Mizoram

Want to live, eat, and stay in the far-off eastern villages of Mizoram

Are fans of mythical stories and want to live the aura around it

Want to get yourself clicked roaming around in the neverending rice fields

Feel like challenging the inner Traveller in you, on the bumpy Mizo roads

Love to drive away from organised modern city life to the far-off Eastern side of myths

Won’t mind a walk along with the small ways in a distant village with kids teaching you the local lingo

Want to go for a night crab hunt in the river, to hunt the crabs with the locals.

Don’t mind waking up every day to a sight of a series of Burmese ranges.

Want to spend time cleaning the small school campus of 119 kids and teach them.

Love to sip some Thengpui San (Laal Chaa) while learning how to make Mizo cuisines.

Love a story walk up to the Mythical hills of Mizoram

Want to just walk in Burma and fancy a pint of Myanmar Beer next to RihDil

Want to keep your checklist away, cause it will overflow

The locations and spots you will get ticked off the list

Aizawl

Champhai

Zokhtwar

Rikhtwar

Rihdil Lake

Dungtlang Village

Lianchhiari Lunglen Tlang

Village Ruins of Dungtlang

Vaphai Village

Thasiama Seho Nehina.

Fiara Tui

Highlights of the trip

Capturing the most beautiful night view of a city in North East

Tasting the most challenging delicacies present in the North East.

Getting to hop onto a two-wheeler taxi.

Staying in a distinct village close to Burma, with only 120 households

Walking into Burma and exploring the town on the other hand

Visiting the pious heart-shaped lake, Rih Dil, in Burma

Living, eating and sharing with Mizo families

Learning how to make the Mizo cuisines

Riding the Mizo Cart with the Mizo Kids

Night Crab Hunting with the villagers

Knowing and listening to experiences with the Mizo’s of the land

Exchanging currencies, shopping and having a local drink in the local shady bar in Burma

Meeting the cowboy collector of Aizawl

Exploring the second-hand markets of Aizawl

Trekking to taste the tastiest water on Earth (according to Mizos)

Living a moment with the view of Burmese hills that would give you numb thoughts

ChaloHoppo to an Emerald Meghalaya

A trek that will make you go weak in the knees both literally and figuratively, a village that will make you lose track of time and a river that is filled with as much adventure as fishes will make you wonder if you should cancel your tickets! Nothing is an exaggeration only an expression of what the travellers so far have felt. We haven’t yet mentioned the butterflies that will greet you on your treks and the sweet folks who will offer you kwai. May we say that it would be a food-venture for those who like their meat and those who love their veggies shall not go hungry either.

You should book this trip if you

Have the mental fitness to trek down 3600 steps

Enjoy water-based activities

Are passionate about classic rock and want to hear local musicians jamming to it

Are comfortable experiencing different kinds of stay options from tents, to boutique cottages to run down rest houses in the middle of a jungle

Prefer experimenting with local food

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Shillong – cafe hopping

Shnongpdeng village

Dawki viewpoint

Nongriat village

Nohkalikhai falls

Arwah caves

Dainthelan falls

Rainbow Falls

Hidden turquoise rock pools

Sai Mika cafe and resort

Highlights of the trip

Staying in one of the most remote villages accessible only on foot

Tasting the authentic Khasi cuisine and cooking a meal in the open

Swimming in turquoise waters

Boating on a transparent river

Listening and jamming with a local band in Cherrapunjee playing in an equally interesting cafe

ChaloHoppo to a Frozen Dzukou Valley

From the frozen rivers in the winters to rare lilies in the monsoons, Dzukou offers the trekker with something they’ll cherish for life. With the scenic and quaint villages of Jakhama and Viswema serving as bases for starting the trek, your experience of being one with nature starts the moment you arrive in Nagaland.

You should book this trip if you

Are adventurous enough to camp in extreme cold

Can carry your own firewood to camp overnight

Understand the spirit of camping and how everyone from porters to guides to guests works as a team to survive the night

Want to see and walk on a frozen river

Want to see how a normally flowing river transforms into ice overnight

Want to see a frost covered Dzukou valley instead of a flowering valley

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Kohima

Jakhama village

Kisama heritage village

Dzukou valley

Highlights of the trip

Camping in a pristine valley in extreme conditions

Learn to pitch tents during the experience

Explore Angami villages on foot

Visiting the heritage village of Kisama where the Hornbill festival takes place

You will be provided with a trip leader who will guide you during the Dzukou trips.

ChaloHoppo to Celebrate Chapcharkut in Mizoram

Ever wondered what Mizoram is like? A state which has got less recognition in books and lesser on the internet. Leave the stereotypes behind and explore the unexplored! Celebrate the annual festival of Spring, Chapchar Kut with the Mizos!

P.S. We would like to thank Mr Mala Pachuau for allowing us to use his picture for the Chapcharkut festival.

You should book this trip if you

Always wanted to explore the less known Mizoram

Want to experience living in a different country within a state

Want to challenge your taste buds

Think you have satisfied your thirst for adventure

Want to sit on thought-provoking mountains

Want to board a two-wheeler taxi

Want to Celebrate Chapchar Kut, the festival of Spring with the whole of Aizawl

Want to chug down pints of the Zufang, Rice Beer

Want to drive away from organised modern city life into the airy outskirts of Mizoram

Want to walk along with your camera in a small village full of ponds and fields.

Witness a waterfall from behind.

Want to shop from a shopkeeper less Shop!

The locations and spots you will get ticked off the list

Aizawl

Reiek

Khaungchera Puk

Falkawn Village

Hmuifang

Sialsuk

Thenzawl

Turi hiau Waterfall

Vantwang Waterfall

Highlights of the trip

Capturing the most beautiful night view of a city in North East

Tasting the most challenging delicacies present in the North East

Getting to hop onto a two-wheeler taxi

Trekking to the mystic peak of Reiek

Living one of the hardest caving experiences

Walking into the old traditional Mizo Village

Shopping from a shop without a shopkeeper

Meeting the cowboy collector of Aizawl

Exploring the second-hand markets of Aizawl

Beholding the view of the largest waterfall of Mizoram

Drive over the longest river in Mizoram

Walking on the empty peaks covered with spring grass to pen down your unborn thoughts

That’s the list of our all the major upcoming trips for 2019 and 2020. If these dates do not match your planned dates then do not worry. You can always get your trips customised. You need to fill in thisform and tell us your requirements.

The calender is well organized and very informative. Just one suggestion - it would be great if the highlights of the trips could be illustrated more through pictures, as they are more appealing and quicker to go through in my opinion :) but do keep up the good work!

The calender is well organized and very informative. Just one suggestion – it would be great if the highlights of the trips could be illustrated more through pictures, as they are more appealing and quicker to go through in my opinion 🙂 but do keep up the good work!

Hey Harshita, That's a brilliant idea. If not for this calendar we will definitely do it for the next one. I know exactly what you mean. If I get the time before the next trip, I'll certainly do it. Otherwise, the next calendar will definitely feature it.

Hey Harshita,
That’s a brilliant idea. If not for this calendar we will definitely do it for the next one. I know exactly what you mean. If I get the time before the next trip, I’ll certainly do it. Otherwise, the next calendar will definitely feature it.

Dear Mr.Nishant Sinha, Congratulations on your initiative. You have discovered yourselves in doing your passion. 15th August 2001 I had first seen the Double Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat. I had named and started promoting the Living Root Bridge at Umunoi at about 2 km from the Resort since June 2000. When I was exploring a new trek to the river Simtung and Umkynsan for swimming in the river, I…

Dear Mr.Nishant Sinha,

Congratulations on your initiative. You have discovered yourselves in doing your passion. 15th August 2001 I had first seen the Double Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat. I had named and started promoting the Living Root Bridge at Umunoi at about 2 km from the Resort since June 2000. When I was exploring a new trek to the river Simtung and Umkynsan for swimming in the river, I was shown the bridge at Nongriat. From then on I promoted it as the Double Decker Root Bridge. Nice to see the way you are promoting it and the whole of North East. I am sure you will be rightly rewarded with great success. I can feel the passion in your write up.

You have been sending us tourists. Drop in when you come here next time. God Bless.

Wow! Such awesome tips in regard to Chalohoppos trip, I love traveling in different places. My next travel destination is Chalohoppos But I was worried about Chalohoppos travel guide? I was wondering how it is with traveling in Chalohoppos. Actually, I got a lot of information from your blog which you have written your blog. Review this article my confusion is clear, Thanks.

Wow! Such awesome tips in regard to Chalohoppos trip, I love traveling in different places. My next travel destination is Chalohoppos But I was worried about Chalohoppos travel guide? I was wondering how it is with traveling in Chalohoppos. Actually, I got a lot of information from your blog which you have written your blog. Review this article my confusion is clear, Thanks.